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ECHOES FROM OUT THE PAST 


HISTORICAL NOTES RELATING TO 
IRISH PIONEERS IN AMERICA 


By THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY 

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ECHOES FROM OUT 

THE PAST, 


OR 

HISTORICAL NOTES RELATING TO 
IRISH PIONEERS IN AMERICA. 


BY 

Thomas Hamilton Murray, 

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SECRETARY-GENERAL, 
AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 


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BOSTON, MASS.: 

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 
1905. 



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ECHOES FROM OUT THE PAST. 


BY THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY. 


James Bourk, “captain of the brig Neptune' 1 is mentioned at New¬ 
port, R. I., 1773. 

William Welch, “from Ireland,” settled in Charlestown, R. I. He 
was born in 1700 and died in 1786. 

Richard Field, “a native of Dublin, Ireland,” was long a resident 
of Newport, R. I., and died in 1769. 

Thomas McCartee of Hartford, Conn., is mentioned in the “ Lex¬ 
ington Alarm ” list of that place, 1775. 

An Irishman, John Fitton, settled in Providence, R. I., about 1750. 
He was a merchant. He died in 1810. 

Daniel Byrn was lieutenant in a regiment (1759) raised by act of 
the General Assembly of Rhode Island. 

The records of Nantucket, Mass., contain the following entry: 
“Betty y e dau. of Denis Manning was born July y e 10, 1679.” 

James Dailey is mentioned in the Revolutionary records as of the 
corps of Sappers and Miners; was at the siege of Yorktown. 

The Chevalier Theobald Dillon was “colonel en second” of the 
Irish-French regiment of Dillon during the American Revolution. 

Stephen Brady was of Col. Obadiah Johnson’s Connecticut- regi¬ 
ment, 1778. The regiment participated in the battle of Rhode 
Island. 

Constant Maguire “of County Fermanagh,” Ireland, settled in 
Rhode Island prior to 1750, and became prominent in Warwick and 
East Greenwich. 

In i75i-'52, Terence Donnelly was engaged by the town of New¬ 
port, R. I., as a schoolmaster. He later conducted a school of his 
own in that place. 




4 


The ship Sally arrived at Boston, Mass., in 1763, having been 
fifty-nine days on the voyage from Ireland. She was quarantined at 
Boston for smallpox. 

A privateer captain in the Revolution was William Malone. He 
is believed to have been of Newport, R. I. He commanded at one 
period The Harbinger. 

John Conley of Stratford, Conn., served in the second troop of 
Sheldon’s Continental Light Dragoons during the Revolution and is 
mentioned as a trumpeter. 

John Flynn of Woodstock, Conn., is mentioned in the Woodstock 
“Alarm List,” 1775. He is also mentioned as a trumpeter in Major 
Backus’ Light Horse, 1776. 

Owen Neill of New London, Conn., sustained losses aggregating 
^91, 14s 6d by the ravages of the British at the time of the latter’s 
attack on New London, 1781. 

Bridget Clifford came from Ireland, 1635, ^ ie Primrose bound 
for Virginia. She was accompanied by two of her brothers. She 
died at Suffield, Conn., in 1695. 

Peter Welsh was adjutant during the Revolution of Col. Frederick 
Weissenfels’ New York regiment of levies. He is also mentioned 
as quartermaster of the regiment. 

Thomas Fitzgerald was a midshipman during the Revolution on 
the Continental frigate Trumbull. The latter was built in Connec¬ 
ticut under the authority of Congress. 

Patrick Canny, a soldier of the Revolution, was serving at Horse- 
neck, Conn., in 1J82-83. He is mentioned in Stiles’ History and 
Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Conn. 

Philip Mullen was fire master of Albany, N. Y., in 1755, and 
Philip Ryley was in charge of the town clock. (Hon. Franklin M. 
Danaher in Early Irish in Old Albajiy, N Y.) 

John McGinnis was a New York soldier of the Revolution. He 
served at one period in Bradt’s Rangers. Also in this corps were 
Edward Early, Richard Kain and Barney Kelley. 

Luke Burns, a cordwainer, resided in Providence, R. I., and died 
in 1788. Jonathan Green, “living near the Mill-Bridge in Provi¬ 
dence,” was appointed administrator of the estate. 


5 


Bryant O’Dougherty was in Salem, Mass., in 1683. At that period 
there were many Irish in Salem. (Eben Putnam in “ Historical and 
Genealogical Notes and Queries,” Salem Observer .) 

James Kasson, with his father and six brothers, came from Ireland 
in 1722 and landed at Boston, Mass. He later settled in Volun- 
town, Conn., removing to Woodbury, Conn., in 1742. 

Armand O’Connor was one of the “ capitaines en second” of the 
Irish-French regiment of Walsh during the American Revolution. 
He is referred to as the Chevalier Armand O’Connor. 

Henry Paget, “ an Irish gentleman much respected,” was admitted 
a freeman of Rhode Island, 1742. He wedded a daughter of Rev. 
John Checkley, rector of a church in Providence, R. I. 

Thomas Ryan is mentioned in the Connecticut Revolutionary 
records as a drummer in Captain Brewster’s company, Colonel 
Huntington’s regiment (Seventeenth Continental), 1776. 

A Rhode Island merchantman, the Abby, Capt. John Donovan, 
was attacked in August, 1752, by a French warship. Captain Don¬ 
ovan met the attack in a spirited manner but was killed. 

Maj. Matthew Donovan of the Ninth Virginia regiment during 
the Revolution died in the service, 1777. The state of Virginia 
allowed his heirs 6,893 acres. (See mention in Saffell.) 

Abbe Dowd, “ Irlandais,” was a chaplain of the French warship 
Le Jason in the American Revolution. Le Jason was of the fleet of 
Count De Ternay, which was assisting the American cause. 

In the Massachusetts force that rendezvoused on “ Dedham Plain,” 
for the Narragansett campaign, 1675, was a soldier named Jeremiah 
Neal. He is mentioned as a sergeant of the sixth company. 

Lieut. Hugh McManus and Lieut. John Riley served in the Sixth 
Regiment, Albany County, N. Y., Militia, during the Revolution. 
The regiment was commanded by Col. Stephen John Schuyler. 

The Connecticut Revolutionary records mention Michael McGee, 
a soldier who served in Colonel Burrall’s regiment of that state. 
McGee was taken prisoner in “the affair at the Cedars,” 1776. 

Over fifteen members of Capt. John Giles’company, \>]2t > -2\, were 
natives of Ireland. The company was engaged operating against the 
Indians in Maine, and is mentioned in the Massachusetts records. 




6 

Tench Francis, son of an Irishman, was born in Maryland, 1732 ; 
became attorney-general of the province of Pennsylvania; was cap¬ 
tain of the Quaker Blues; subscribed ,£5,500 in aid of the Patriot 
army. 

David Dowd, soldier of the Revolution, served in a Connecticut 
light infantry company, under Lafayette, February-November, 1781. 
The company was commanded by Capt. Samuel Barker of Branford, 
Conn. 

A settler at Sudbury, Mass., Richard Burke, came from Ireland 
prior to 1650. He married in 1670 and left many descendants. He 
was one of the earliest Burkes to settle in America of whom we have 
record. 

An early resident of Newport, R. I., was Owen Higgins. His wife 
was born in 1640. In 1701, his son Richard is recorded as a free¬ 
man of Newport. (See Austin’s Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode 
Island .1 

Five ships arrived in Boston Harbor, Aug. 4, 1718, with Irish 
immigrants aboard. Many of these subsequently settled in New 
Hampshire. These facts are referred to in Cullen’s Story of the Irish 
i?i Boston. 

Daniel Sullivan, born in Ireland, 1717, died in Providence, R. I., 
1814. In an obituary notice it is stated that “He had long resided 
in this town where his integrity and piety secured him confidence 
and esteem.” 

Charles McAfferty, “ an Irishman,” was a soldier of the Revolu¬ 
tion and served in Col. Jeremiah Olney’s Rhode Island Continentals. 
He was one of the first to enter the enemy’s redoubts at the capture 
of Yorktown. 

Patrick McSherry was an officer in the Irish-French regiment of 
Dillon during the American Revolution. He is mentioned in that 
recent work, les Combattants Francais De la Guerre Americaine 
(Paris, 1903). 

James Buchanan, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, came to 
this country in the brig Providence, 1783. He was then in his 
twenty-second year. His son, James, became president of the 
United States. 

Two members of the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard (Washington’s), 
in the Revolution, were James and Robert Blair, both natives of 


7 


Ireland. Godfrey’s history of the guard furnishes a biographical 
sketch of each. 

“ In the discharge of his duty he has at all times proved himself 
an alert, brave and intelligent officer.” The foregoing tribute was 
paid by Gen. Henry Knox to Lieut. Florence Crowley, a soldier of 
the Revolution. 

Jacques O’Driscoll was one of the “ capitaines en second ” in the 
Irish-French regiment of Walsh during the American Revolution. 
Others of the same rank in the command were Edouard Stack and 
Charles O’Croly. 

Hon. James Sullivan was governor of Massachusetts in 1807 and 
1808. He succeeded Hon. Caleb Strong and preceded Hon. Chris¬ 
topher Gore. Governor Sullivan was a brother of Gen. John Sullivan 
of the Revolution. 

Ten ships, bringing nearly one thousand passengers, arrived at 
Boston, Mass., from Ireland, during the two years, 1736 and 1738. 
It was at this period, 1737, that the Charitable Irish Society of Bos¬ 
ton was organized. 

Thomas Quirk, “ a brave and fine-looking Irishman,” served under 
Gen. George Rogers Clark in the latter’s western campaign. He 
had been a sergeant and is later mentioned as a major. He was 
alloted 4,312 acres. 

Robert Beers, an Irishman, was slain “y e 28 March 1676,” by the 
Indians. The tragedy occurred at “ the ring of the town,” within 
the limits of what is now East Providence, R. I. Beers was a brick- 
maker by occupation. 

A distinguished officer of the Revolution, Edward Hand, was born 
in Kings County, Ireland. He came to America in 1767 ; espoused 
the Patriot cause, and was successively lieutenant-colonel, colonel, 
and brigadier-general. 

The first funds of Rhode Island College, now Brown University, 
were obtained in Ireland. The original subscription book is still 
carefully preserved. (Guild’s work on The First Commencement of 
Rhode Island College.') 

In 1774 the Second Company, Governor’s Foot Guard, of New 
Haven, Conn., engaged Edward Burke as instructor “ in the military 
exercise.” The company is one of the oldest existing military or¬ 
ganizations in America. 


8 


Gov. Thomas Dongan of New York, an Irish Catholic, visited Mil¬ 
ford, Conn., in 1685, to confer with Governor Treat regarding the 
boundary between the two colonies. Governor Treat terms Dongan 
“A noble gentleman.” 

Stephen Decatur, a Genoese Catholic, arrived in Newport, R. I., 
about i74o-’ 46 ; married a woman of Irish lineage; became captain 
of a privateer. His son, also named Stephen, attained high rank in 
the United States navy. 

Thomas Casey was born in Ireland about 1636. He became a 
resident of Newport, R. I. In 1692 he and his son Thomas wit¬ 
nessed a deed given by James Sweet of East Greenwich, R. I., to 
Thomas Weaver of Newport. 

Jean Baptiste O’Meara was one of the “ lieutenants en second ” of 
the Irish-French regiment of Walsh in the American Revolution. 
Holding like rank in the regiment were Jacques O’Sheil, George Mei- 
ghan and Eugene MacCarthy. 

On the roster of the British garrison at Albany, N. Y., when the 
place was reconquered from the Dutch and held for a short time in 
1673, appear the names Capt. John Manning, Patrick Dowdell, John 
Fitzgerald and Thomas Quinn. 

Matthew O’Bryan was a Massachusetts soldier of the Revolution. 
He served in Col. John Crane’s regiment of artillery. In one return 
he is credited with service for 21 months and 25 days as bombar¬ 
dier and 12 months as matross. 

Jane Brown was born in Providence, R. I., 1734. Her father, 
Rev. Arthur Brown, was a native of Drogheda, Ireland. She mar¬ 
ried Samuel Livermore, who became attorney-general of New Hamp¬ 
shire and United States senator. 

Thomas Amory emigrated from Limerick, Ireland, to South Caro¬ 
lina. He removed from the latter place to Boston, Mass., in 1721. 
The late Thomas C. Amory of Boston, author of the Transfer of 
Erin , was one of his descendants. 

Mrs. Grant in her Memoirs of an American Lady mentions “A 
handsome, good-natured looking Irishman in a ragged provincial 
uniform,” named Patrick Coonie, with his wife and children, who 
settled near Albany, N. Y., in 1768. 

Matthew Mease, who was born in Strabane, Ireland, became 
purser of the Bonhomme Richard and served under John Paul Jones 


9 


in the engagement with the British 44-gun ship Serapis. Mease 
was wounded in that engagement. 

In 1768, Patrick Mackey, mentioned as from Philadelphia, Pa., 
opened in Providence, R. I., “ a skinner’s shop near the Hay-ward, 
on the east side of the great bridge.” He dealt in deer leather, in 
wool, and in goat and sheep skins. 

The New York Revolutionary records mention Thomas Quigley, 
first lieutenant of the privateer General Putnam , “ formerly the 
Betsey .” She was commanded, successively, by Capt. Thomas 
Cregier and Capt. William Mercier. 

A roll of Capt. John Givens’ company of militia, Augusta County, 
Va., 1777—’82, includes the names James Donohoe, Peter Carrol, 
John Morrison, Neil Hughes, John Craig, Andrew Mitchell and 
others indicative of Irish extraction. 

Alexander Johnston came from near Londonderry, Ireland, about 
1721, and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a magistrate, and at one 
time owned a farm in Pennsylvania of 900 acres. Col. Francis 
Johnston of the Revolution was his son. 

Michael Wright, a native of Mountmellick, Queens County, Ire¬ 
land, served during the Revolution in a Rhode Island regiment of 
the Line. He is mentioned in a return as 42 years of age and as 
having his residence in Seaconnet, R. I. 

Gen. Stephen Moylan, of the Revolution, was a brother of the 
Roman Catholic bishop of Cork, Ireland. Two of his sisters became 
nuns. One of them was abbess of the Ursuline convent in Cork, 
and the other was a nun in the same convent. 

Macarty de Marteigue was the commander, in 1782, of the French 
warship Le Magnifique, which formed part of the naval force sent 
over by France to aid the American Revolution. Du Fay de Carty 
is mentioned as an ensign on the same ship. 

The Massachusetts Revolutionary records mention Patrick Burke, 
a soldier of Col. John Crane’s regiment of artillery. Burke enlisted 
for the town of Wrentham, Mass., was a sergeant, and is at one 
period referred to as “ Orderly to the General.” 

Hugh McLean, a native of Ireland, was born in 1724. He settled 
in Milton, Mass., and died in 1799. His son, John McLean, was a 
benefactor of Harvard College and of the Massachusetts General 
Hospital, the latter institution in Boston, Mass. 


10 


Among those serving during the Revolution, in the First Regiment, 
Virginia Light Dragoons, were James Casey, Thomas Hogan, John 
Carroll, William Hicks, John Powers and Niel McCaffry. They are 
mentioned in the Virginia records of that period. 

Some years after the close of the Revolution, Christopher Fitz- 
simons, a wealthy Irishman of Charleston, S. C., passed away, 
leaving an estate worth $700,000. His daughter, Anne, married one 
of the Hamptons, receiving $ 100,000 as her dower. 

Mention is made in the Massachusetts Revolutionary records of 
John McLaughlin, a marine who served aboard the Alfred , com¬ 
manded by John Paul Jones. McLaughlin is referred to as entitled 
to prize shares in the ship Mellish and the brig Active. 

Before 1800, Masters Knox and Crocker, natives of Ireland, taught 
school at Bowen’s Hill (Coventry, R. I.), and the neighborhood. 
(Cole’s History of Washington and Kent Counties , R. I) The name 
Knox is found in the Coventry records as early as 1766. 

David O'Killia, a son of David, “the Irishman ” of old Yarmouth, 
Mass., married Anna Bills in 1662. He had a brother named John 
who wedded in 1690. Another brother, Jeremiah, died in 1728. A 
sister, Elizabeth, became the wife of Silas Sears in 1707. 

Timothy McKlewain’s name appears in a list of subscribers at a 
meeting in East Windsor, Conn., April 21, 1777. The meeting was 
“ For ye Great & important Purpose of furnishing our Proportion of 
men for the Continental Army.” He subscribed £1 10s. 

Alexander Bryan, from Armagh in Ireland, was a settler at Mil¬ 
ford, Conn., as far back as 1639. *66i he bought of the Indians 

the last twenty acres they owned on Milford Neck. He paid them 
therefor six coats, three blankets and three pairs of breeches. 

Among the ancient inscriptions in the old Granary Burial Ground, 
Boston, Mass., is the following: “Here Lyeth Interred y e body of 
Charles Maccarty, son to Thadeus and Elizabeth Maccarty, aged 
18 years, wanting 7 days. Deceased y e 25 of October, 1683.” 

Patrick Cavenaugh, a soldier of the Revolution, served in the 
Eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line. On one occasion he 
saved General Lincoln from being captured by the British, in New 
Jersey. He was afterwards an express rider for General Greene. 

A Massachusetts soldier of the Revolution was Daniel McCarty. 
He was born in Ireland, came to this country and enlisted in the 


11 


Patriot ranks. He served in Greaton’s regiment and is credited in 
the records to Roxbury, Mass. He is reported as killed in 1777. 

Charles O’Gorman was one of the “lieutenants en second ” of the 
Irish-French regiment of Walsh during the American Revolution. 
His name is preserved in the French military archives and is men¬ 
tioned in Les Combattants De La Guerre Americaine (Paris, 1903). 

About 1735, Richard Copley with his wife, Mary (Singleton) Copley, 
came to America from County Clare, Ireland. His health being 
poor, he went to the West Indies to recuperate. John Singleton 
Copley, the eminent artist, a native of Boston, Mass., was their son. 

Matthew Hurley was one of the soldiers serving in the war 
against Philip, the Indian king, 1675—’76. He was at one period of 
the company of Captain Wadsworth, who was killed in the battle at 
Sudbury, Mass., and is mentioned in Bodge’s work on King Philip's 
War. 

Patrick McLaughlin, a soldier of the Revolution, served in the 
First Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Col. John Philip De 
Haas; was taken prisoner by the British at Three Rivers, June 9, 
1776. He is mentioned in the Revolutionary records of Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 

Abbe Bartholomew O’Mahony was chaplain of the French warship 
L'Ivelly during the American Revolution. LPvelly was commanded 
by M. le Chevalier Durumain, and formed part of the fleet of Count 
De Grasse. (See Les Combatta?its Franca is De La Guerre Amer¬ 
icaine .) 

In an old cemetery at Rutland, Mass., is a gravestone to the mem¬ 
ory of Patrick Gregory, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 
about 1690. When he came to this country is unknown. He died 
July 5, 1756. On the gravestone just mentioned shamrocks are 
carved. 

A native of County Armagh, Ireland, Thomas Robinson, was born 
in 1745 and died in Providence, R. I., 1809. He had been a res¬ 
ident of Providence for seventeen years; was described as “ an in¬ 
genious and useful citizen” and “possessed the most enduring phil¬ 
anthropy.” 

An influential man in Maryland, in 1647 an d later, was Philip 
Conner. In the year named he was appointed a commissioner for 




12 


Kent County. He is referred to as “The last commander of old 
Kent.” A descendant, James Conner, in 1705 wedded Elinor 
Flannagan. 

Born at sea, of Irish parents, 1745, William Patterson died in 
1806. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of 
New Jersey; attorney-general of the state; United States senator; 
governor of New Jersey; and judge of the Supreme Court of the 
United States. 

At a military review near Trenton, N. J., in 1776, George Fuller¬ 
ton, a native of Ireland, was killed by the accidental discharge of a 
pistol. He was a merchant in Philadelphia, Pa., and a member of 
the First City Troop. In his will is mentioned John Fullerton, an 
uncle in Ireland. 

Three Irish Rhode Islanders in the Revolution were James 
Bishop, William Parker and John Wilson. Bishop was born in 
Dublin; Parker in County Waterford, and Wilson in County Kil¬ 
kenny. They served in Captain Topham’s company of Col. Thomas 
Church’s regiment. 

Ensign Patrick Cronin was of Colonel Malcom’s New York regi¬ 
ment of levies in the Revolution. Also on the regimental rolls 
appear the names Cleary, Conner, Crane, Daley, Griffin, Jackson, 
McCarty, McCoy, McGee, McWilliams, Mead, Moore, Morrison, 
Murphy and the like. 

Hon. Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Indepen¬ 
dence and president of Congress, was a founder, an incorporator, 
and the first president of the Hibernian Society of Philadelphia, Pa. 
His parents were both natives of Ireland. (Campbell’s History of 
the Hiberniaji Society .) 

Michael Connolly was captain and paymaster, during the Revolu¬ 
tion, in the Second New York Regiment of the Line. Philip Van 
Cortland was colonel of the regiment. There were many Irish in 
the command, as reference to New York in the Revolution, by James 
A. Roberts, will show. 

An Irish trader at Fort Pitt (Pittsburg) before the Revolution was 
John Ormsby. He suffered depredations during Pontiac’s war, and 
was later granted a large tract of land at Fort Pitt. He was an 
active patriot during the Revolution and took a prominent part in 
the struggle for liberty. 


13 


Capt. Daniel Malcom, an Irishman, died in Boston, Mass., 1769. 
He “ was a true son of Liberty, a friend to the Publick, an enemy to 
oppression and one of the foremost in opposing the Revenue Acts 
on America.” His remains rest in a brick tomb in the old Copp’s 
Hill graveyard, Boston. 

Capt. Edward Connor was of Col. Marinus Willett’s New York 
regiment in the Revolution. Also in the regiment appear such 
names as Burk, Crowley, Downing, Garvey, Hicks, Kelly, Kenny, 
Lane, Lyons, McCoy, McGee, McGill, McVey, Molloy, Moore, 
Quin, Ryan and Welsh. 

A Connecticut soldier of the Revolution, George McCarty, served 
in Bigelow’s artillery company, the first company of artillery raised 
in Connecticut during the war. It marched to the northern depart-* 
ment and was stationed during the summer and fall of 1776 at 
Ticonderoga and vicinity. 

Born in Tipperary, Ireland, Edward Fitzgerald came to this coun¬ 
try and became a soldier of the Revolution. He was a resident of 
Newport, R. I. Lie is mentioned as of the Rhode Island Continental 
Line when he was but 19 years of age. He saw much service at 
Ticonderoga and elsewhere. 

A native of Dublin, Ireland, John Read was born in 1688. He 
came to this country, purchased an estate in Maryland, and was one of 
the founders of Charlestown on the headwaters of Chesapeake Bay. 
He was appointed by the Colonial Legislature a commissioner to 
lay out and govern the town. 

Paul Cox, an Irishman, was of Philadelphia, Pa., as early as 
1773. He became a member of the Pennsylvania State Navy Board, 
1777, and was otherwise prominent. The inscription on his tomb¬ 
stone in Philadelphia states that he was “ Thrice an elector of the 
president of the United States.” 

Christopher Marshall, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was born in 
1709. He settled in Philadelphia, Pa., and was a druggist. During 
the Revolution his firm furnished drugs and medicines to the Conti¬ 
nental army. He was a member of the Committee of Safety through¬ 
out the whole period of the war. 

Maj. John Gillespy is mentioned as serving during the Revolution 
in the Fourth Regiment, Ulster County (N. Y.) Militia, commanded 


14 


by Colonel Hardenburgh. Also of the same regiment was Lieut. 
Samuel Gillespy. (Vide New York in the Revolution, by Comptroller 
James A. Roberts, Albany, 1898.) 

In the old graveyard attached to the stone church built on the site 
of Fort Herkimer in the Mohawk valley, N. Y., is buried John Ring 
“ of the Kingdom of Ireland, captain of one of His Majesty’s com¬ 
panies of this Province, who departed this life 20th day of Sept., 
1755, in the 30th year of his age.” 

Thomas McCarthy, a soldier of the Revolution, enlisted from 
Newtown, Pa., Jan. 14, 1776, for three years, in Capt. George Lewis’ 
troop, Third Regiment, Continental Dragoons, commanded by Col. 
George Baylor. On May 1, 1777, he was assigned to the cavalry of 
the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard. 

John M. O’Brien is mentioned in the Rhode Island records as a 
soldier of the Revolution. He served in Captain Dexter’s company, 
of the “Late Col. Greene’s regiment,” and died in 1781. He is 
believed to have been the soldier elsewhere mentioned in the Rhode 
Island records as John Morris O’Brien. 

Andrew Caldwell, born in Ireland, became a prominent merchant 
in Philadelphia, Pa. He was a patriot of the Revolution ; member 
of the Council of Safety; member of the First City Troop, Philadel¬ 
phia; member of the Navy Board; port warden of Philadelphia; a 
director of the Bank of North America. 

George Bryan, an Irishman, became a resident of Philadelphia, Pa.; 
was a member of the Assembly; a delegate, in 1765, to the Stamp 
Act Congress; a patriot of the Revolution; vice-president of the 
Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania: president of the same; 
a judge of the Supreme Court of the state. 

In Mason’s Reniiniscences of Newport (R. I.) is an interesting ref¬ 
erence to Henry Goldsmith, a native of Westmeath, Ireland. He 
settled in Newport when he was 24 years of age, married there in 
1779, and had 14 children. At the close of the Revolution, Mr. 
and Mrs. Goldsmith removed from Newport. 

James Calhoun, grandfather of John C. Calhoun, came from Don¬ 
egal, Ireland, in 1733, with his family, and settled in Pennsylvania, 
later removing to western Virginia, and at a later period, further 
south. In 1765 they established the “Calhoun settlement” in South 
Carolina, near the Cherokee Indian frontier. 


15 


James Blaine came from Ireland with his family prior to 1745. 
He settled in Toboyne township, Cumberland County, Pa., where he 
died in 1792. He left a widow and nine children. Col. Ephraim 
Blaine of the Revolution was one of these children. The late Hon. 
James G. Blaine of Maine was a descendant. 

One of the officers in the Irish-French regiment of Dillon, during 
the American Revolution, was Patrick Murphy. His name is pre¬ 
served in the military archives of France, and by its publication in 
Les Combattants Francais De La Guerre Americaine , is recalled and 
forever made known to the American people. 

Mary Peisley was a native of Kildare, Ireland, and was born in 
1717. She entered the Quaker ministry about 1744, came to Amer¬ 
ica with Ann Payton, and perhaps other Quakers, about 1753, labored 
in New York, the Carolinas, Maryland and Rhode Island; returned 
to Ireland and married Samuel Neale of Dublin. 

James Moore, who was chosen governor of South Carolina, was 
born in Ireland about 1640. He came to this country in 1655, set- 
tied in Charleston, S. C., wedded a daughter of Sir John Yeamans 
and had 10 children. One of his sons, also named James Moore, 
was likewise chosen governor of South Carolina. 

Born in Ireland in 1705, Jeremiah Smith came to Boston, Mass., 
with his wife, in 1726, and finally settled in Milton, Mass., 1737. He 
was an intimate friend of Governor Hutchinson, Governor Hancock 
and other leading men. He engaged in the manufacture of paper, 
and carried on the business until 1775 when he retired. 

The Virginia records show that Symon Tuchin was in that colony 
in 1625. He was master of the Due Return , and “having been ban¬ 
ished out of Ireland was reported as strongly affected to popery.” 
Accordingly, “The Governor and Council of Virginia sent him as a 
prisoner, in January, 1625, to the Company in England.” 

Mary Mallins, “from Bandon in Ireland,” was among those 
arrested in Boston, Mass., at the time of the prosecution of the 
Quakers, she being one of the latter. She and twenty-seven other 
Quakers were finally liberated by Endicott and were ordered to 
leave the jurisdiction at once, nor to return at their peril. 

M orison’s Life of Judge Jeremiah Smith , who was a native of Peter¬ 
borough, N. H., states that “ He began to study Latin when about 
twelve years old, with Rudolphus Greene, an Irishman employed by 


16 




the town to keep school a quarter of the year in each of the four 
quarters of the town.” Judge Smith was born about 1771. 

John Mitchell, a native of Ireland, was muster-master-general of 
the Pennsylvania State navy, 1775—’76 ; acting commissary, 1776—’77 ; 
lieutenant on the Chatham , 1775: captain of the Ranger, 1776; a 
merchant in France after the Revolution; United States consul at 
Santiago de Cuba; admiralty surveyor of Philadelphia, Pa. 

A Rhode Island soldier, 1756—’59, was named William Sheehan. 
He is mentioned in the former year as a lieutenant and quarter¬ 
master for the expedition against Crown Point. In 1758, he appears 
as first lieutenant in the major’s company of his regiment, and is 
also referred to the same year as captain and quartermaster. 

A Virginia trooper who rendered service against the French and 
Indians was Thomas Doyle. The Assembly of Virginia passed an 
act in 1756 for the payment of men engaged in said service. Doyle 
was voted 1,860 pounds of tobacco, and other troopers w r ere to be 
paid like amounts. (Boogher’s Gleanings of Virginia History .) 

Daniel Magennis is a name frequently met in King Philip’s War, 
1 675—’76. Daniel became a corporal and was at one time company 
clerk. He served at various times under Captain Henchman, Cap¬ 
tain Wheeler and other commanders. His name also appears in the 

records as Maginnis. (See Bodge’s Histo?y of King Philip's War.) 

% 

Col. Charles Stewart was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 1729. 
He came to America, 1750 ; was deputy surveyor-general of Pennsyl- 
V vania ; patriot of the Revolution ; colonel of a New Jersey regiment 
of Minute Men; colonel of a New Jersey regiment of the Line; 
served on Washington’s staff; member of the Continental Congress. 

“ In the Mayflower . . . were one hundred and one men, 

women, boys and girls as passengers, besides captain and crew. 
These were of English, Dutch, French and Irish ancestry, and thus 
typical of our national stock.” (Rev. William Elliot Griffis in Brave 
Little Holla?ui and What She Taught Us. New York, 1894. Page 
208.) 

Bernard O’Neill was a captain in the Irish-French regiment of Dil¬ 
lon in the American Revolution. He was probably the “ Captain 
Commandant O’Neill” who participated in the expedition against 
Savannah, where he was wounded in the breast, and may have been 


17 


identical with “ Le Baron Bernard O’Neill,” who became a Chevalier 
of St. Louis. 

Thomas DeCourcy was a native of Newport, R. I. His father 
came from Ireland and settled in Newport about 1720. The father’s 
brother, also named Thomas, was Baron Kinsale. Upon the latter’s 
death, Thomas, the native of Newport, succeeded to the title and 
estates.. Mention of these facts may be found in Peterson’s History 
of Rhode Island. 

Eleanor Ledlie was of Irish parentage. She became the wife of 
Capt. Samuel Bowman, an officer of the Revolution, who as com¬ 
mander of the guard walked arm in arm with Major Andre, the 
British spy, to the place of the latter’s execution. (Hon. Edward A. 
Moseley of Washington, D. C., in an address to the American-Irish 
Historical Society.) 

Matthias Alexis de Roche Fermoy, of Irish extraction, was an 
officer in the French forces that came to America during our Revo¬ 
lution and assisted in establishing the independence of the United 
States. He became a brigadier and is mentioned in the work 
entitled Generals of the Continental Line in the Revolutionary War 
(Philadelphia, 1903). 

Brian Murphy was a soldier in King Philip’s War, 1675—’76. He 
is mentioned in Bodge’s history of that war and is credited with gar¬ 
rison duty at Mendon, Mass. Thomas Tally, Patrick Morren, 
Timothy Larkin, Joseph Griffin, Jeremiah Toy, Philip Butler, John 
Hand and Thomas Welch are also mentioned by Bodge as partici¬ 
pating in that struggle. 

During the Revolution, Capt. William Burke of the armed schooner 
Warren was captured by the British frigate Liverpool and carried 
into Halifax, from whence he was sent to New York and confined on 
board a prison ship. He was later exchanged for Capt. Richard 
Jones, “ a British officer of equal rank.” Captain Burke is mentioned 
as of Marblehead, Mass. 

Susannah Lightfoot, a native of Ireland, was born in 1720. She 
was a Quaker, and with Ruth Courtney came from Ireland to Amer¬ 
ica on a visit to Friends here. On her return to the Old Land, she 
landed at Cork. In 1760, she paid a second visit to these shores, 
and four years later removed with her husband from Ireland and 
permanently settled here. 


Among those serving under Esek Hopkins, during the Revolu¬ 
tion, was Patrick Kaine. He is mentioned as a marine and served 
aboard the Cabot. In an engagement with the British ship Glasgow , 
April 6, 1776, he was killed. Anthony Dwyer, Richard Sweeney, 
John Connor, Thomas Dowd and Andrew Magee also served aboard 
the Cabot under Hopkins. 

Jeremiah Driskel, William Henussey and John Leary all served in 
the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard (Washington’s) during the Revolu¬ 
tion. Driskel had previously served in a Maryland regiment; 
Henussey, in a Pennsylvania command, and Leary, in a regiment 
commanded by John Stark. (See Godfrey’s work on The Com- 
mander-in- Chiefs Guard.) 

In 1776, John O’Kelley was a member of a military company in 
the town of Warren, R. I. The company was commanded by Capt. 
Ezra Ormsbee. Also in the company were Daniel Kelley and 
Joseph Kelley. The General Assembly of Rhode Island, in 1782, 
gave “Mrs. Elizabeth O’Kelley, widow of John O’Kelley,” of War¬ 
ren, permission to sell certain real estate. 

Thomas Jones, “from Strabane, Ireland,” came to Rhode Island 
prior to 1699 ; later he removed to Long Island, N. Y. He married 
Freelove Townsend, whose father gave them land at Massapequa, 
where they settled. They are mentioned in Bunker’s Long Island 
Genealogies. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had a son David, born in 1699. 
Thomas, the immigrant, died in 1713. 

Andrew Meade, a Kerry Irishman, and a Catholic, emigrated to 
New York, married Mary Latham, a Quakeress of Flushing, went 
to Nansemond County, Va., and died there in 1745. His son was 
Col. Richard Kidder Meade, an aide-de-camp of General Washing¬ 
ton. (Quoted by Martin I. J. Griffin of Philadelphia, Pa., in 
American Catholic Historical Researches.) 

Thomas, John and Walter Dongan, kinsmen of Governor Dongan 
of New York, are believed to have been residing in New York in 
1715. In 1723 a private act was passed by the Assembly of the 
province “ to enable Thomas Dongan and Walter Dongan, two sur¬ 
viving kinsmen of Thomas, late Earl of Limerick,” to sell part of 
their estate. A similar act was passed in 1726. 

Hotten’s Original Lists (London, 1874) contain the names of 
many Irish who were conveyed to Virginia, Barbadoes and other 


19 


parts. The work comprises the period from 1600 to 1700 and men¬ 
tions “ Persons of quality, emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, 
serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, 
maidens pressed” and other wayfarers of the time. 

Charles Carroll, grandfather of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, came 
to this country about 1689 and settled in Maryland. In 1691 he 
was made judge and register of the land office, and agent and re¬ 
ceiver for Lord Baltimore’s rents. His son, also named Charles 
Carroll, was born in 1702 and died in 1782. Charles Carroll of 
Carrollton was a son of this second Charles Carroll. 

Michael Ryan, a soldier of the Revolution, was acting-adjutant of 
the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Col. Anthony 
Wayne, from Feb. 17, 1776; was appointed adjutant March 15 that 
year; became a captain in the Fifth Pennsylvania, and was inspector 
of General Wayne’s division ; was promoted brigade-major, Nov. 18, 
1777 ; also served as major of the Tenth Pennsylvania. 

The Massachusetts records mention Patrick McMullen as serving 
during the Revolution aboard the Providence, under John Paul Jones. 
He is referred to as entitled to a prize share in the ship Alexander, 
captured in 1777, and is also mentioned as a marine aboard the 
Alfred , commanded by Jones. In this latter capacity he was enti¬ 
tled to prize shares in the ship Mellish and the brig Active. 

Andrew Brown, born in Ireland, was educated at Trinity College, 
Dublin, came to this country and eventually settled in Massachu¬ 
setts. He was a patriot of the Revolution, fought at Lexington 
and Bunker Hill; served as major under Gates and Greene. After 
the war, he established the Federal Gazette at Philadelphia, Pa., the 
publication being later known as the Philadelphia Gazette. 

An Irish schoolmaster in Brunswick, Me., was Thomas Crowell. 
He settled there shortly after the close of the Revolution, and taught 
school there for over twenty years. Many of his pupils became lead¬ 
ing business men, and some of them famous shipmasters. Sumner 
L. Holbrook read a paper, a few years ago, before the Pejepscot 
Historical Society, of Brunswick, devoted to Master Crowell. 

John Donnaldson, “ son of Hugh Donnaldson of Dungannon, Ire¬ 
land,” was a shipping merchant in Philadelphia, Pa.; a patriot of 
the Revolution ; member of the First City Troop; took part in the 
battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown; sub- 


20 


v 


scribed £ 2,000, in 1780, in aid of the army; became register- 
general of Pennsylvania ; and comptroller-general of the state. 

David McCarty, Albany, N. Y., was a member of the Committee 
of Safety there during the Revolution. He was a valiant soldier 
and at the time of his death was a general of state troops. In May, 
1771, he married Charlotta, granddaughter of Pieter Coeymans, the 
founder of a wealthy Dutch family. By this marriage McCarty 
came into the possession of much land in the Coeymans Patent. 

Well-nigh forgotten now is Christopher Stuart, an Irishman and 
soldier of the Revolution. He was born in the Old Land, 1748, 
and settled in Montgomery County, Pa. He served successively as 
captain, major and lieutenant-colonel of Pennsylvania troops, in¬ 
cluding the Line; took part in the battle of Long Island, the storm¬ 
ing of Stony Point, and in other actions of the war; died, 1799. 

Patrick Googins, “ a young Irish weaver,” came to this country 
about 1722 and settled at Old Orchard, Me. He married Hester 
Rogers. Her father gave Patrick as her marriage portion 200 acres 
there. In years long after, the place became known as “ the old 
Googins farm.” The farm remained in the Googins family for four 
generations. (See an article in the Old Orchard Mirror , 1902.) 

One of the founders of the Charitable Irish Society of Boston, 
Mass., 1737, was Joseph St. Lawrence. In the records of the Bos¬ 
ton selectmen, that year, appears the following: “Mr. Joseph St. 
Lawrence from Ireland, Merchant, having imported upwards of Fifty 
Pounds Sterling, Prays he may be Allow’d to Carry on his Business in 
this Town.” It is presumed the desired permission was granted. 

Charles Thomson, who for nearly fifteen years was secretary of the 
Continental Congress, being sometimes referred to as its “ Perpetual 
secretary,” was born in Ireland, 1729. He participated in various 
treaty proceedings with the Indians, and was styled by the latter 
“The man of truth.” He married Hannah Harrison whose nephew, 
William Henry Harrison, became president of the United States. 

Robert Temple arrived at Boston, Mass., from Ireland, in ijij, 
with a party of Irish Protestants. He settled on Noddle’s Island, 
now East Boston, and had a house there that “contained elegant 
rooms suitable for the reception of persons of the first condition.” 
He commanded a company in operations against the Indians. He 
became a member of the Boston Charitable Irish Society in 1740. 


21 


George Taylor, a native of Ireland, died in Providence, R. I., in 
1778. He taught school there for over 40 years, was for a number 
of years president of the Town Council and held other positions of 
trust and honor. He was a man of public spirit and witnessed 
events of the earlier part of the Revolution. The Providence 
Gazette states that “ He was an honor to the country that gave him 
birth.” 

Col. Israel Angell of the Second Rhode Island regiment in the 
Continental Line, has this entry in his diary under date of March 17, 
1781 : “Good weather. A great parade this day with the Irish, it 
being St. Patrick’s. I spent the day on the Point [West Point], and 
tarried with the officers.” This diary has been reproduced in printed 
form by Edward Field, secretary of the Providence, R. I., Record 
Commission. 

Alexander Black, an Irishman, was a resident of Providence, R. I., 
as early as 1762. He was a merchant and was associated in busi¬ 
ness with James Black, and later with Alexander Stewart. Alexan¬ 
der Black died in Providence, 1767. In a notice of his death, which 
appears in the Providence Gazette , he is declared to have been “ A 
fast friend to the liberties of America, and studied to promote the 
public weal.” 

James Kavanagh, a native of County Wexford, Ireland, came to 
Boston, Mass., in 1780, during the Revolution, but settled at Dama- 
riscotta Mills, Me., and engaged in the lumber business. His son, 
Edward, became president of the State Senate of Maine, a member of 
Congress, United States charge d’ affaires in Portugal, a commis¬ 
sioner to settle the northeastern boundary of Maine, and acting gov¬ 
ernor of Maine. 

Edmund Fanning, an Irishman, was a victim of the Cromwellian 
confiscation, and fled at the time of the surrender of Limerick, 1651, 
and settled in Groton, Conn. His uncle, Dominick Fanning of 
Limerick, was one of the 21 persons exempted from pardon by 
Ireton and was beheaded at that time. D. H. Fanning and Walter 
F. Brooks, Worcester, Mass., are descendants of Edmund Fanning, 
the Groton settler. 

Morgan Connor, a Pennsylvania soldier of the Revolution, was 
successively lieutenant, captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel com¬ 
mandant. He served in Col. Samuel Miles’ Pennsylvania Rifle 


22 


Regiment; was wounded in the right wrist at Princeton ; was called 
from camp by Congress in March, 1776, and sent South as brigade 
major for General Armstrong; was afterwards lieutenant-colonel of 
Hartley’s regiment. 

John Brown, a native of Ireland, came to this country about 1760. 
He settled in Virginia, in the Warm Spring Valley, and had a tract 
of 400 acres. About 1778 he married Mary Donnelly. He com¬ 
manded a company in the Revolution, and after the war was a jus¬ 
tice for Bath County, Va., sheriff and treasurer of the county, major 
of the Second Battalion of militia, and a member of the General 
Assembly of Virginia. 

Daniel Dulany, a native of Queens County, Ireland, was born in 
1686. He was a cousin of Rev. Patrick Dulany, dean of Down. 
Daniel came to this country when quite young and settled in Mary¬ 
land. He was admitted to the bar in 1710, became attorney-general 
of the province, judge of admiralty, commissary-general, agent and 
receiver-general, and councillor. He was in the public service of 
Maryland for nearly 40 years. 

Edward Fox was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1752 ; came to this 
country, studied law and eventually settled in Philadelphia, Pa. He 
held various positions of prominence there; became secretary of the 
Bank of the United States, secretary of the American Fire Insurance 
Co., recorder of deeds for the county of Philadelphia, and treasurer 
of the University of Pennsylvania. One of his sons married a 
daughter of Gen. Stephen Moylan. 

Cortlandt Schuyler of Albany, N. Y., was captain in “a march¬ 
ing regiment ” of the British Army. He married a handsome Irish¬ 
woman in Ireland, while stationed there, and brought her to Albany 
about 1763. Upon his death, she returned to Ireland with her chil¬ 
dren, “where it is said their desendants bearing the name Schuyler 
still live.” (Mrs. Grant’s Memoirs of an American Lady , quoted by 
Hon. Franklin M. Danaher of Albany.) 

In ij6 g-jo, Rev. Hezekiah Smith made a tour of South Carolina 
and Georgia in aid of Rhode Island College, now Brown University. 
He says in his diary of the tour: “Thursday, March 1, 1770, went 
to Malachi Murfee’s.” The list of those who subscribed in aid of 
the college, on this Southern trip, includes Edward Dempsey, 
Charles Reilly, Patrick Hinds, James Welsh, Hugh Dillon, John 
Boyd, Matthew Roach and Capt. John Canty. 


23 


An officer who came with our French allies during the Revolution 
was Isidore de Lynch. He was at one period an aide-de-camp to 
the Chevalier de Chastellux. Referring to the return of the French 
to Boston after the surrender of the British at Yorktown, Count Se- 
gur speaks of “ Isidore de Lynch, an intrepid Irishman, afterwards a 
General.” Lynch became commander of the Irish-French regiment 
of Walsh, and was decorated with the Cross of St. Louis. 

The Dutch records of Albany, N. Y., mention Jan Fyne, “ van 
Waterfort in Irlandt.” His name likewise appears as Johannes Fine, 
which in English would probably be John Finn. He is believed to 
have been a soldier who was sent to Albany in 1690. He settled 
there and is later mentioned as a cooper. In 1696 he wedded Jopje 
Classe Van Slyck. His second wife, whom he married in 1699, was 
Alida, daughter of Jacob Janse Gardiner of Kinderhook. 

Watson H. Harwood, M. D., of Chasm Falls, N. Y., in a paper 
contributed to the Register of the New England Historic, Genealog¬ 
ical Society, January, 1898, treats of the Clogstons of New Hamp¬ 
shire. He states that “The Clogston family is of Irish origin,” and 
that it came to New Hampshire sometime after 1718. Paul Clogs¬ 
ton, a descendant of the immigrants, died of wounds received at 
Bunker Hill, 1775. The name is sometimes written Clogstone. 

Blair McClenachan, an Irishman by birth, settled in Philadelphia, 
Pa., at an early age, and became the “ largest importer in the city 
except Robert Morris ” ; was a patriot of the Revolution ; subscribed, 
in 1780, ^10,000 in aid of the army; was one of the original mem¬ 
bers of the First City Troop; a member of Congress, i797~’99 ; was 
made commissioner of loans by President Jefferson. One of 
McClenachan’s daughters married Gen. Walter Stewart. 

One of the early settlers of Peterborough, N. H., was William 
McNee. He was born in Ireland, 1711, and before coming to this 
country married Mary E. Brownley. In an address delivered at 
Peterborough, some years ago, Hon. James F. Brennan of that town 
said that McNee’s “descendants have now reached the eighth gen¬ 
eration, but unfortunately the name is entirely lost. The first and 
second generations retained the name, but the third changed it to 
Nay.” 

Michael Morgan O’Brien, a native of Ireland, became a West India 
merchant in Philadelphia, Pa., and was located there as early as 
1780. He was a member of the First City Troop of Philadelphia, 


24 




of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Hibernia Fire Company, and 
the Hibernian Society. He died in France, 1804. He bequeathed 
his books to the “ Rt. Reverend Father in God, John Carroll, R. C, 
Bishop of Baltimore, as a testimony of the great respect and esteem 
I bear him.” 

A prominent man in his day was John Patton. He was born in 
Sligo, Ireland, 1745, settled in Philadelphia, Pa., and became a 
merchant there. A patriot of the Revolution, he was successively 
major and colonel of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania regiment, and ren¬ 
dered gallant service during the war. In 1780 he subscribed ^1,000 
in aid of the army. After the war he was an iron manufacturer, and 
at the time of his death, 1804, was major-general of Pennsylvania 
state troops. 

Christopher Colles, a native of Ireland, was born in 1737. He 
came to this country and lectured on pneumatics, inland navigation, 
water supply for cities and similar topics. In 1775, he became an 
instructor in gunnery and was so employed in the American Conti¬ 
nental Army until 1777. He memoralized the New York Legis¬ 
lature, in 1784, in favor of a canal from the Hudson River to Lake 
Ontario. He constructed and operated a telegraph, in 1812, at 
Fort Clinton. 

One of the victims of the Boston massacre, March 5, 1770, was 
Patrick Carr. On that date, British soldiers in Boston, Mass., fired 
on a gathering of the people, three of the latter being instantly killed 
and five dangerously wounded. Crispus Attucks, the leader of the 
gathering, was among the killed and Carr was mortally wounded. 
A granite monument stands on Boston Common to commemorate the 
victims of the British. High up on the shaft, among the others, 
appears the name of Patrick Carr. 

The Mercury (Philadelphia) of Aug. 28, 1735, reported: “On 
Monday last, Capt. Blair arrived from Carick Fargus in Ireland 
with 168 Irish passengers and servants and on Monday evening 
before any of them landed one of them fell into the river and was 
drowned.” The next paper announced: “the body was found, the 
next tide carried up seven miles from the mouth of the Schuylkill.” 
( America?i Catholic Historical Researches, Philadelphia, Pa., Martin 
I. J. Griffin, editor.) 

From the records of the selectmen, Boston, Mass., Aug. 4, 1736: 
“Dennis Suilivant being present Informs, That he with his Wife are 


25 


lately come into this Town from South Carolina by land; That he 
has been in Town about Five Weeks; That he first Lodg’d at the 
White Horse Two nights, and a Fortnight at Mrs Snowdens and 
now lodges in Long lane, That he designs to return to England or 
Ireland, as soon as he can Conveniently Obtain a Passage for him¬ 
self and his said Wife.” 

Gen. William Thompson of the Revolution was an Irishman by 
birth. He came to this country prior to the War for Independence; 
served during the French and Indian War; became captain of a 
troop of Light Horse; led a regiment, in 1775, to the American 
camp at Cambridge, Mass., and participated in the siege of Boston ; 
had many sharpshooters in his command ; was made brigadier-general 
in 1776 ; relieved General Lee in command of the American forces at 
New York; died in 1791. 

A veteran soldier of the Revolution was Patrick Leonard, who was 
born in Ireland, 1740. He came to this country and enlisted in the 
Patriot ranks ; served in Proctor’s artillery and in the First Regi¬ 
ment, Pennsylvania Line. He saw much service and took part in 
the battles of Bunker Hill, Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Prince¬ 
ton, Brandywine, Germantown and Stony Point; also served, in 
i79i-’96, under Harmar, St. Clair and Wayne. He was residing, 
in 1817, at Cincinnati, Ohio. 

A native of County Westmeath, Ireland, John Shee, came to 
America between 1742 and 1745 ; became prominent in Philadelphia, 
Pa.; a patriot of the Revolution ; commanded the Third Pennsylva¬ 
nia regiment; member of the Pennsylvania State Board of War; 
subscribed ^1,000 in aid of the army; is referred to as “a man of 
excellent manners and good acquirements ” ; after the war, became a 
general of Pennsylvania state troops; collector of the port of Phila¬ 
delphia ; city treasurer of Philadelphia. 

A native of Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, John Dunlap, was 
born in 1747. He settled in Philadelphia, Pa. ; became printer to 
Congress, and to the state of Pennsylvania; published the Philadel¬ 
phia Packet; was cornet, lieutenant, and commander of the First City 
Troop; commanded the cavalry in the Whiskey Insurrection cam¬ 
paign. During the Revolution he subscribed ,£4,000 in aid of the 
Patriot army. He was at one time the owner of 98,000 acres in the 
South, in addition to real estate elsewhere. 


26 


One of the earliest Irishmen in this country of whom we have 
record was Francis Maguire. Hon. Hugh Hastings, state historian 
of New York, writes that Maguire arrived at Jamestown, Va., with 
Capt. Christopher Newport, about 1607, remained in the country 
nearly a year, and returned to England with Newport. Maguire 
“wrote an account of his voyage to Virginia and submitted it to the 
Privy Council of Spain.” In one account he is described as an 
Irishman and a Roman Catholic. 

Teague Crehore was a resident of Milton or Dorchester, Mass., as 
early as i64o-’5o. He is stated to have been stolen from his 
parents in Ireland when a child. He died in 1695, aged 55 years. 
This would show that he was born about 1640. He had a son 
Timothy, born in 1660, who died in 1739 and is buried in Milton, 
Mass. This Timothy had a son Timothy, grandson of Teague, who 
was born in 1689 and wedded Mary Driscoll of Dorchester, Mass., 
in 1712. He died in 1755 and is buried in Milton. 

Rev. Samuel Dorrance, an Irish Presbyterian clergyman, arrived 
in Voluntown, Conn., 1722, and was installed as pastor of the church 
there. His nationality caused some dissatisfaction, and the dis¬ 
gruntled members of the church drew up a petition for his removal. 
They were informed, they said, that “ He came out of Ireland ” and 
that since his coming “ The Irish do flock into town.” (Larned’s 
History of Windham Coimty, Conn., quoted by Rev. James H. 
O’Donnell in his History of the Diocese of Hartford .) 

The “ poll list for the election of burgesses for the County of 
Prince William,” Virginia, 1731, contains many Irish names, includ¬ 
ing Darby Callahan, Edward Barry, John Mead, Thomas Conway, 
Samuel Conner, Michael Regan, James Curry, Owen Gilmore, John 
Murphey, William Hogan, Thomas Hicks, Michael Scanlon, John 
Madden, Dennis McCarty, Thomas Jordan, Richard Higgins, Thomas 
Welsh, etc. These and other names, constituting the entire list, are 
set forth in Boogher’s Gleanings of Virginia History. 

A gallant soldier of the Revolution, who has almost been forgot¬ 
ten, was John Haslett. He was born in Ireland, came to this coun¬ 
try and located in Delaware; was for several terms a member of the 
State Assembly; participated in the battles of Long Island and 
White Plains. On one occasion, he surprised a British picket, took 
36 prisoners, 60 muskets, and two pairs of colors ; became colonel 


27 


i 

of a Delaware regiment and was killed at the battle of Princeton, 
1777. His son, Joseph, became governor of Delaware. 

Among the many Irish names on the roster of the Commander-in- 
Chief’s Guard, during the Revolution, is that of Hugh Hagerty. He 
served in a Pennsylvania regiment of the Line, and was transferred 
at Valley Forge, March 19, 1778, to the Guard just mentioned. 
This organization is sometimes referred to as Washington’s “Life 
Guard,” and was composed of picked men. Hagerty participated in 
the battle of Monmouth and other engagements of the war. (God¬ 
frey’s recent work on The Com man der-in- Ch ief's Guard.) 

The Dutch records of New York mention Jan Andriessen, “the 
Irishman.” Jan was at Beverwyck, now Albany, N. Y., as early as 
1645. He is also referred to as “ De Iersman van Dublingh.” His 
name in English was probably John Anderson. In 1649 he leased 
a “bouwerie ” or farm. It is also known that he bought a farm and 
homestead of Peter Bronck at Coxsackie, N. Y. In one document 
his signature is thus attested: “ This is the mark of Jan Andriessen, 
the Irishman, with his own hand set.” He died in 1664. 

William Hogen, also written Hogan, is heard from in Albany, 
N. Y., as early as 1692. The Dutch records state that he was from 
“ Yrland in de Kings county.” At a mayor’s court held in Albany, 
May 14, 1700, he was deemed “convenient and fitt to be one of the 
fyre masters for ye Citty.” June 25, 1700, he was on a petit jury to 
try an action between two Dutchmen. He also served on a jury in 
1703. In 1700 and 1704 he was elected an assessor. (Hon. 
Franklin M. Danaher in Early Irish in Old Albany , N. Yl) 

James Butler came from Ireland, and is heard from at Lancaster, 
Mass., 1653. He became the largest landowner in what is now 
Worcester County, Mass. He also owned land in Dunstable, Wo¬ 
burn and Billerica, Mass. He died in 1681. His son, Deacon John 
Butler, was the first child of Irish parentage born in Woburn, and 
settled in Pelham, N. H., and lies buried there. (From a letter writ¬ 
ten to the American-Irish Historical Society by Henry A. May of 
Roslindale, Mass., a descendant of James Butler the immigrant.) 

A resident of Yarmouth, Mass., as early as 1645, was Teague 
Jones, who is stated to have been an Irishman. He was one of the 
men sent from the town, in the year just mentioned, against the Nar- 
ragansett Indians. His period of service at the time was thirteen or 


28 


fourteen days. In 1667, the selectmen of “ the towne of Yarmouth 
returne the name of Teague Jones for not coming to meeting.” In 
a “rate” made in 1676 to defray the expenses of King Philip’s War, 
Teague was assessed £2 4s, as his share. He had a son, Jeremiah. 

A prominent resident of Albany, N. Y., during the Revolution, was 
Hugh Denniston, “a true Irishman.” For many years he con¬ 
ducted the only first-class hotel and tavern there. It was the first 
stone house erected in the place. Denniston was a sturdy patriot 
and his hotel was a meeting place for the liberty-loving citizens of 
Albany. Washington was a guest at the hotel on his visits to 
Albany in 1782 and 1783, and was there presented the freedom of 
the city. 

Charles MacCarthy was a founder of the town of East Greenwich, 
R. I., 1677. Like many surnames at that period, his is variously 
spelled in the records. Thus, it apears as Macarta, Macarte, Ma- 
carty, Mecarty, Mackarte, etc. In the year mentioned, he was one 
of a party of forty-eight settlers to whom a grant of 5,000 acres, to be 
called East Greenwich, was made by the General Assembly of Rhode 
Island. Later, the area of the town was enlarged by the addition of 
35,000 acres on the western border. Charles’ will is dated Feb.-18, 
1682. 

The twenty-six original members of the Charitable Irish Society, 
Boston, Mass., which organization was founded in 1737, were: Rob¬ 
ert Duncan, Andrew Knox, Nathaniel Walsh, Joseph St. Lawrence, 
Daniel McFall, Edward Allen, William Drummond, William Freeland, 
Daniel Gibbs, John Noble, Adam Boyd, William Stewart, Daniel 
Neal, James Mayes, Samuel Moor, Philip Mortimer, James Egart, 
George Glen, Peter Pelham, John Little, Archibald Thomas, Edward 
Alderchurch, James Clark, John Clark, Thomas Bennett and Patrick 
Walker. 

Jasper Moylan was a native of the city of Cork, Ireland, and half 
brother of Gen. Stephen Moylan. He was educated in France, stud¬ 
ied law, came to this country and attained eminence in his profession 
in Philadelphia, Pa. In addition to English, he had a splendid 
knowledge of the French and Spanish languages. He was a mem¬ 
ber of the First City Troop of Philadelphia. He and his brother 
John, and their half brother Stephen, were known in that city as “ the 
three polite Irishmen,” owing to their elegant manners. Jasper died 
in 1812. 


29 


Among Virginia officers in the Revolution were Maj. William Cro- 
ghan, Capt. Ferdinand O’Neal, Capt. Patrick Carnes, Capt. John 
Fitzgerald, Capt. Andrew Nixon, Capt. William Barrett, Capt. John 
Jordan, Capt. Lawrence Butler, Capt. James Curry, Lieut. Joseph 
Conway, Lieut. Luke Cannon, Lieut. Peter Higgins, Lieut. William 
McGuire, Lieut. Lawrence Manning, Lieut. John Rooney, Lieut. 
Matthew Rhea, Ensign William Connor and others bearing Irish 
names. Some of these subsequently attained higher rank than that 
here given. 

Sharp Delany, born in County Monaghan, Ireland, established 
himself as a druggist in Philadelphia, Pa., about 1764. He was a 
patriot of the Revolution. In 1777, he was a commissioner “to 
seize the personal effects of traitors,” and in 1778, was an agent to 
look after “forfeited estates.” In 1779, he was colonel of the Sec¬ 
ond Pennsylvania regiment. He subscribed ^1,000 in aid of the 
army in 1780; was collector of the port of Philadelphia; a member 
of the Society of the Cincinnati, and occupied other honorable posi¬ 
tions in life. 

John Hamilton, “an Irish servant-man,” was a Redemptioner or 
indentured servant who, in 1752, was held by Henry Caldwell of 
Chester County, Pa. Hamilton ran away that year and Caldwell 
advertised to recover him. Hamilton was then about twenty-two 
years of age. Caldwell offered a reward to “ whoever takes up said 
servant, so that his master may have him again.” Mention of the 
incident is found in Karl Frederick Geiser’s recent work on Redemp- 
tioners and Indentured Servants in the Colony a 7 id Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. 

George Taylor, one of the Irish signers of the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence, was born in the Old Land, in 1716. He came to this 
country when twenty years of age. Having a good education, he 
advanced from the occupation of laborer in an iron foundry to 
the position of clerk ; married his employer’s widow, and accumu¬ 
lated a generous fortune. He was a member of the Pennsylvania 
Assembly for five consecutive years. In 1770, he was made a judge 
of the Northumberland County Court, Pa., and was elected to Con¬ 
gress in 1776. 

One of the first settlers of Waterford, Conn., was Thomas Butler. 
He and John Butler were there about 1681. Rev. James H. O’Don¬ 
nell, now of Norwalk, Conn., says that the “name of Waterford was, 





SJ 


30 

no doubt, given to their new home in honor of the old, the beautiful 
city on the banks of the Suir,” in Ireland. He thinks it not unrea¬ 
sonable to infer that the founders of the Connecticut Waterford were 
Irish Catholics. Thomas Butler died in 1701, aged 59 years. John 
Butler died in 1733, aged 80 years. Thomas was, therefore, born 
about 1642, and John about 1653. 

William Hibbins came from Ireland to Boston, Mass., on the Mary 
and John , about 1634. He married Mrs. Anne Moore, a widow, 
whose brother, Richard Bellingham, was governor of Massachusetts. 
Mr. Hibbins died in 1654. His wife fell a victim to the witch-hunt¬ 
ing fanatics of the period and was hanged by order of the Massachu¬ 
setts authorities, in 1656. No jury could be found to convict her 
and she suffered death at the hands of the General Court. She be¬ 
queathed her property to her two sons, in County Cork, Ireland, 
John and Joseph Moore. (See Cullen’s Story of the Irish in Boston.) 

Molly Pitcher, “a young Irishwoman” having “a handsome, 
piercing eye,” was the wife of a cannoneer in the Patriot army dur¬ 
ing the Revolution. At the battle of Monmouth her husband was 
killed at his post, whereupon Molly, who was engaged bringing 
water from a spring, dropped her bucket, seized the rammer of the 
cannon and taking her husband’s place continued to serve the piece 
of artillery. The next morning she was presented by General 
Greene to Washington, who praised her heroism and made her a 
sergeant. She was placed upon the list of half-pay officers for life. 

Anthony Gulliver, a native of Ireland, was born in 1619. He died 
at Milton, Mass., 1706. His children were: Lydia, born 1651 ; Sam¬ 
uel, born 1653; Jonathan, born 1659; Stephen, born 1663; John, 
born 1669; Elizabeth, born 1671; Nathaniel, born 1675. There 
were also two other children, Hannah and Mary. The children were 
all born in this country, Cullen’s Story of the Irish in Boston states 
that “Anthony Gulliver was the ancestor of a large number of able 
and influential men and women, who have been prominent in the his¬ 
tory of church and town affairs of Milton for nearly two hundred 
years.” - 

From the Calendar of Colonial State Papers: “April 1st, 1653. 
Order of the Council of State. For a license to Sir John Clotworthy 
to transport to America 500 natural Irishmen.” On Oct. 3, 1655, 
it was ordered that “1000 Irish girls and the like number of boys 
of 14 years or under,” be sent to Jamaica, “ the allowance to each 


31 


one not to exceed 20 shillings.” May 22, 1656, an order was 
adopted “ for the transportation of 1200 men from Ivnockfergus in 
Ireland and Port Patrick in Scotland to Jamaica.” (Quoted by 
Re y . James H. O’Donnell in his History of the Diocese of Hartford, 
Conn.) 

A Rhode Island soldier, Patrick Tracy, participated with Mont¬ 
gomery in the assault on Quebec. He was of the company of Capt. 
Simeon Thayer of Providence, R. I., and was killed in the assault 
just mentioned. Cornelius Hagerty and Corporal James Hayden of 
the company were wounded. In a work on this invasion of Canada, 
reference is made to John M. Taylor, “ keen as an Irish greyhound,” 
who was Arnold’s purveyor and commissary in the wilderness. Men¬ 
tion is also made of Lieut. William Cross, “ a handsome little Irish¬ 
man, always neatly dressed,” who commanded, on the Isle of Or¬ 
leans, a detachment of some twenty men. 

Among the land patents granted in New York under the English 
colonial government, was one to David Mooney, 1765. The tract was 
located in Washington County and comprised 2,000 acres. It was 
known as the Mooney patent. The Otsego patent, 100,000 acres, 
was granted to George Croghan and ninety-nine others, in 1769. 
Croghan is also mentioned in connection with other patents. Mi¬ 
chael Byrne and others were granted the Stony Hill Tract, 18,000 
acres, in 1768. It was located in Schoharie County. The Adaqua- 
taugie patent, 26,000 acres, in Otsego County, was granted in 1770 
to Sir William Johnson, an Irishman, and others. 

The rolls of the Third New York Regiment of the Line, during the 
Revolution, contain a large number of Irish names. They include 
Brady, Brannon, Burke, Burns, Butler, Condon, Connolly, Dempsey, 
Doherty, Dunn, Flynn, Garvey, Geraghty, Gillaspy, Hickey, Hogan, 
Kelly, Lyon, McCarty, McConnelly, McCord, McCormick, McCoy, 
McDermot, McGinnis, McGown, McGuire, Mackey, McLaughlin, 
McNeal, McQuin, Madden, Mahan, Moloy, Moore, Morris, Morrison, 
Mulholand, Murray, O’Connoley, Quigley, Riley, Ryan, Sullivan, 
Sweeny, Tobin, Wall, Welch and others. (Vide New York in the 
Revolution , by Comptroller James A. Roberts, Albany, 1898.) 

Among Irish names found in Connecticut at early periods may be 
mentioned Brian Rosseter, Windsor, 1639 5 Thomas Dunn, New Ha¬ 
ven, 1647; Lawrence Ward, Branford, 1654; Thomas Welch, Mil¬ 
ford, 1654; John Mead, Stamford, 1656 ; Richard Hughes, New Ha- 


82 


ven, 1659; Edward Fanning, Mystic, 1662 ; Thomas Ford, Windsor, 
1669; Richard Butler, Stratford, 1669; Hugh Griffin, Stratford, 
1669; William Meade, New London, 1669; Thomas Sha (Shea), Sr., 
Stonington, 1669; Thomas Tracy, Norwich, 1669; Timothy Ford, 
New Haven, 1669; Jeremiah Blake, New London, 168 t ; James 
Kelly, New London, 1682 ; Owen McCarty, New London, 1693. 

Gen. Walter Stewart, a Pennsylvania officer of the Revolution, 
was born in Ireland, about 1756. He settled in Philadelphia, Pa., 
espoused the cause of the Patriots, and in 1776 was commissioned 
captain. He w r as made an aide-de-camp to General Gates the same 
year. In 1777, Stewart was commissioned colonel of the Pennsyl¬ 
vania State Regiment of Foot, took part in the battles of Brandy¬ 
wine and Germantowm, and retired in 1786 wfith the rank of brevet 
brigadier-general. In 1794, he was major-general of Pennsylvania 
state troops. General Washington was godfather to his eldest son. 
(Campbell’s History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick , Philadel¬ 
phia.) 

The Marquis de Chastellux in a tour through Connecticut, 1780, 
stopped at Litchfield. His host there was a Mr. Philips. The 
latter was, the Marquis tells us, “ an Irishman transplanted to 
America, where he has already made a fortune; he appears to be 
a man skillful and adroit; he speaks with caution to strangers, and 
fears to compromise himself; for the rest he is of a gayer mood than 
the Americans, even a little of a joker, a kind but little known in 
America.” (From Voyages de M. Le Marquis de Chastellux dans 
HAmerique , Septentrionale les an?iees 1780, 1781 a?id 1782; quoted 
by Rev. James H. O’Donnell in his History of the Diocese of 
Flartford.) 

A prominent merchant in Philadelphia, Pa., at one period, was 
James Caldwell. He was a native of Ireland. He was a patriot of 
the Revolution, a member of the First City Troop, Philadelphia, and 
took part with it in the campaign of 1776—’77. Campbell’s History 
of the Frie7idly So?is of St. Patrick , Philadelphia, says that he was 
“ one of the six volunteers of the Troop who accompanied Colonel 
Reed on December 30, 1776, from Trenton to reconnoitre the ad¬ 
vanced posts of the enemy, and who captured twelve British soldiers 
during that expedition.” In 1780, Caldwell subscribed ^2,000 to 
the bank that was organized to supply the Continental army with 
provisions. 


33 


Rev. Mr. Lyons, an Irish clergyman of the Church of England, 
who was located in Derby, Conn., was subjected to great abuse there 
because of his nationality. Writing to London, May 8, 1744, he 
says: “As soon as they had advice of my appointment, and from 
what country I came, and, indeed, before I arrived among them, 
they abused me, calling me ‘ an Irish Teague and Foreigner/ with 
many other reflections of an uncivilized and unchristian kind. It 
would be too tedious to record all the abuse and insults I have 
received in Derby.” ( Church Documents of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, quoted by Rev. James H. O’Donnell in his History of the 
Diocese of Hartford .) 

»r 

Patrick Ward, a lieutenant, was one of the defenders of Fort Gris¬ 
wold, Conn., during the Revolution. The fort was attacked by the 
British during the raid conducted by Arnold, the traitor, and after a 
gallant resistance was captured by the enemy. The atrocities com¬ 
mitted upon the surrendered and helpless garrison, by the British, 
constitutes one of the blackest chapters in the history of warfare. 
The event has ever since been known as the “ Massacre of Fort 
Griswold.” Ward was one of the victims. On a stone over his 
grave was placed this inscription : “ In memory of Mr. Patrick Ward 
who fell a victim to British cruelty in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6th, 1781, 
in the 25th year of his age.” 

Felt’s Ecclesiastical History of New England mentions William Col¬ 
lins who, about 1640, accompanied a party of refugees from the West 
Indies to what is now New Haven, Conn. After a time these way¬ 
farers dispersed “ and some returned to Ireland.” Collins after¬ 
wards taught school at Hartford, Conn., and subsequently wedded a 
daughter of Anne Hutchinson who with her family had been banished 
from Boston, Mass., by the intolerant Boston church, because of her 
religious views. She took up her residence on the island of Rhode 
Island. Later, the family removed to territory under Dutch jurisdic¬ 
tion, where Mrs. Hutchinson, her son and her son-in-law (Collins) 
were killed by the Indians. 

An interesting tradition is told concerning George Berkeley, “ the 
Kilkenny scholar,” Anglican dean of Derry, and later bishop of 
Cloyne. The tradition relates to his arrival at Newport, R. I., in 
1729, and is thus narrated: “The captain of the ship in which he 
and his party sailed could not find the island of Bermuda, and having 
given up the search for it, steered northward until they discovered 
land unknown to them and supposed to be inhabited by savages. 




84 

On making a signal, however, two men came on board from Block 
Island, in the character of pilots, who on inquiry informed them that 
the harbor of Newport was near.” The tradition maybe founded on 
fact, but opinions vary concerning it. 

John Mease, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, became a shipping 
merchant in Philadelphia, Pa., and was a patriot of the Revolution. 
He was with the force that crossed the Delaware with Washington 
on the night of Dec. 25, 1776, and surprised the Hessians at Tren¬ 
ton. On another occasion he was of a detail told-off to keep the 
fires along the American front burning while the patriots secretly 
moved in another direction to fall upon the British at Princeton. On 
one occasion during the war Mease subscribed ,£4,000 in aid of the 
Patriot cause. He was affectionately spoken of in his old age as 
“The last of the cocked hats,” on account of his continuing to wear 
the three-cornered hat of the Revolution. 

Count Arthur Dillon, commander of the Irish-French regiment of 
Dillon during the American Revolution, perished by the guillotine in 
Paris, a victim to the Terror. The regiment of Dillon formed part 
of the Irish brigade in the service of France, and was a most historic 
corps. It dated its organization back to the previous century. 
Count Dillon, above mentioned, came with his regiment to America 
with our French allies and rendered valiant service. He took part 
in the capture from the British of St. Eustache, Tobago and St. 
Christopher, participated in the attack on Savannah and in the siege 
and capture of Yorktown. He became a brigadier and marechal-de- 
camp, and, in 1792, was in command of a division in the French 
army. 

In 1743 there was born in Dublin, Ireland, a boy who was des¬ 
tined to take a prominent partin the American Revolution. He was 
Richard Butler. He came to this country, espoused the Patriot 
cause, and attained distinction as a soldier. Plis ability was early 
recognized by Congress and, 1776, he was appointed major. In 
1777 he was commissioned colonel of the Fifth Pennsylvania; was 
an officer of Morgan’s Rifle Corps, and took part in the battles of 
Bernis’ Heights and Stillwater; was made colonel of the Ninth 
Pennsylvania; commanded the Americans at the storming of Stony 
Point; participated in the siege and capture of Yorktown. He at¬ 
tained the rank of major-general and was second in command of St. 
Clair’s army for operations against the Indians. He was killed in 
battle by an Indian, 1791. 


35 


“ Thomas the Irishman ” is mentioned in the Dutch records of 
New York. Thus, Hon. Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General of New 
Netherland, writing to Capt. Martin Cregier, 1663, says: “Your 
letter by Thomas the Irishman has just been received.” 

On Aug. 5, 1663, Captain Cregier writes in his journal: “Thomas 
the Irishman arrived here at the Redoubt from the Manhatans.” 
On Sept. 1, 1663, Captain Cregier writes : “ Thomas the Irishman 
and Claesje Hoorn arrived with their yachts at the Kill from the 
Manhatans,” and on the 17th of the same month the captain writes: 
“ Thomas the Irishman arrived today.” The foregoing references 
may be found in Documents Relatmg to the Colonial History of the 
State of New York , edited by Fernow, Vol. XIII, Albany, 1881. 

The first president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, New York 
City, 1784, was Daniel McCormick, a native of Ireland. He came 
to this country prior to the Revolution, and amassed a large fortune, 
was one of the first directors of the Bank of New York, and was asso¬ 
ciated with William Constable and Alexander Macomb, two Irish¬ 
men, in extensive land enterprises. Barrett’s Old Merchants of New 
York states that “ Mr. McCormick was a glorious example of the old 
New Yorker,” and “ stuck to short breeches and white stockings and 
buckles to the last.” He was a great entertainer, “gave good dinner 
parties, and had choice old wines upon the table.” He is also men¬ 
tioned “as one of the most polished gentlemen of the city.” He 
“ was the last occupant of a first-class dwelling on Wall Street, since 
devoted wholly to business.” 

From the records of the selectmen, Boston, Mass., May 4, 1723 : 
“Whereas great numbers of Persons haue [have] very lately bin 
Transported from Ireland into this Province, many of which by 
Reason of the Present Indian war and the Accedents befalling them, 
Are now Resident in this Town whose Circomstances and Condition 
are not known, Some of which if due care be not taken may become 
a Town Charge or be otherwise prejuditial to the wellfair & Pros¬ 
perity of the Place, for Remady whereof Ordered That Every Person 
now Resident here, that hath within the Space of three years last 
past bin brought from Ireland,, or for the future Shal come from 
thence hither, Shal come and enter his name and Occupation with 
the Town Clerk, and if marryed the number and Age of his Chil¬ 
dren and Servants, within the Space of fiue [five] dayes, on pain of 
forfeiting and paying the Sum of twenty Shillings for Each 
offence***.” 


36 


Matthew Lyon, “the Hampden of Congress,” was born in County 
Wicklow, Ireland, 1750. He came to this country in 1765 ; located 
in Connecticut, and later in Vermont; participated with Ethan Allen 
in the capture of Ticonderoga from the British; became adjutant of 
Col. Seth Warner’s regiment; served under General Montgomery in 
the campaign against Canada, 1775 ; became paymaster, with the 
rank of captain, in Warner’s regiment; took part in the battles of 
Bennington and Saratoga; became commissary-general of militia, 
with the rank of colonel; was a member of the State Legislature and 
judge of Rutland County, Vt. ; member of Congress from Vermont 
from 1797 to 1801 ; cast the vote that made Thomas Jefferson 
president of the United States; removed to Kentucky and repre¬ 
sented that state in Congress from 1803 to 1811. 

Sarah W. Alexander, who wedded Christopher R. Perry of Rhode 
Island, became the mother of Oliver H. Perry—best known as 
Commodore Perry—who defeated the British in the naval battle on 
Lake Erie. She was a native of Newry, Ireland, and was born in 
1768. Mackenzie, in his Life of Commodore Perry , just mentioned, 
says that her friends in Ireland “ Had been involved in the Irish 
rebellion. She herself, had felt a lively interest in the cause of lib¬ 
erty, and had listened with deep interest to every account she had 
heard of battles and skirmishes in the neighborhood. She took a 
pleasure in recounting . . . the achievements of her countrymen 

and always insisted that they were the bravest people in the world. 
These narratives fired the mind of Oliver and created a desire in him 
to pursue the profession of arms.” Oliver received much of his 
early education from “ Old Master ” Kelly, an Irish school teacher at 
Tower Hill, R. I. 

From the records of the selectmen, Boston, Mass., Aug. 16, 1736 : 
“mr. James Wimble Informs That Capt. Benedict Arnold who just 
arrived from Cork with Passengers, came to his House yesterday, 
being Lord’s day in the afternoon, bringing with him the following 
Persons, Viz 1 . Mr. Benj a . Ellard, Gent, and his Wife and Three Chil¬ 
dren, and a Maid Servant, Joseph Atkins, John Clark, John Seley, 
Thomas Morgan, James Ellard, John Ellard, Benjamin Gillam, 
Elizabeth Ellard and William Neal. Accordingly the Master Capt. 
Arnold was sent for Who appear’d and gave Information, That he 
came from Ireland about Twelve Weeks ago, and that he is Bound 
to Philadelphia with his Passengers, Who in all, are one Hundred 
and Twenty, Hopes to Sail in a few days, as soon as he can Recruit 


37 


with Water and Provisions, and Promises That the Passengers 
which came ashore Yesterdy shall repair aboard again to day, The 
Ships name is the Prudent Hannah.” 

Gen. William Irvine of the Revolution was born near Enniskellen, 
County Fermanagh, Ireland, 1741. He came to America in 1764, 
and settled at Carlisle, Pa. He espoused the patriot cause, raised 
and commanded the Sixth Pennsylvania regiment; commanded a 
brigade at the battle of Monmouth, and when Lee’s troops were 
retreating, they so impeded the advance of this gallant Irishman’s 
brigade that he threatened to charge through them before he could 
make his way to take an advanced position. Irvine was made a 
brigadier-general in May, 1779, and was assigned to the command 
of the Second brigade of the Pennsylvania Line ; later he became a 
member of the State Council of Censors; member of the Continen¬ 
tal Congress ; senior major-general of Pennsylvania State troops; a 
presidential elector; in charge of United States military stores at 
Philadelphia. He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Pat¬ 
rick, Philadelphia. ( Vide Campbell’s History of the Friendly Sons oj 
St. Patrick.) 

William Constable was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1752 ; a patriot 
of the Revolution; joined the Continental army as an aide to Lafay¬ 
ette ; prominent as a merchant in Philadelphia, Pa.; married Ann 
White, a schoolmate of the wife of General Washington ; removed 
to New York City in 1784; also very prominent there; associated 
in business with Robert Morris and Governeur Morris, the firm 
being known as Constable & Co.; engaged in huge land specula¬ 
tions, purchasing large tracts in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Vir¬ 
ginia, and Georgia; bought in 1787, with Alexander Macomb, 
a tract of 640,000 acres in New York, Constable’s share being 
192,000 acres; in 1791, he and Alexander Macomb and Daniel Mc¬ 
Cormick purchased a tract, in New York, of some 4,000,000 acres, or 
about a tenth part of the whole state. This purchase comprised the 
“whole of the present counties of Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence 
and Franklin, with parts of Oswego and Herkimer.” On one oc¬ 
casion, about 1797, Constable lent $1,000 to the fugitive Duke of 
Orleans in this country, which loan was afterwards repaid by Louis 
Philippe. Constable was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. 
Patrick, Philadelphia, and of the Hibernian Society of that city. 
He was president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, New York 
City, in 1789-90 and in 1795. 



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